Disk wheel



G. H. FORSYTH.

Patented Mar. 29,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. FORSY'I'H, OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS.

. DISK WHEEL.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Original application filed November 26, 1918, Serial No. 264,253. Divided and this application filed Jaunary 26, 1921. Serial No. 439,933. I

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. FORS YTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harvey, in the county of Cook and State 0t Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk 'heels, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has to do with steel disk wheels of known type compris ng generallya hub portion and a peripheral tirecarrying portion and an intermediate disk portion. a

The invention is applicable to such wheels whether including a single or mult ple disks, an integral or separate felly portion, or a fixed or demountable rim apart from the telly, although its benefits are most fully realized when embodied in a single disk wheel of dished contour, having an integral ofi'set telly and employing a'dernountable rim. as set forth in my co-pendlng appl cation Serial No. 264,253 of which this appl1- cation is a division. J

The principal objects of the invention forming the subject of the present application are the placing and maintaining of the disk and rim under radially reacting stress, the parts being so constructed and assembled that the disk is confined under spring or resilient compression by the constrictive rim, and the rim is subjected to outward thrust of the telly; as a result of which the wheel is greatly strengthened as against dead load, shock or side thrust. the tendency to local deformation is absorbed by the wheel as a whole. the resiliency of the wheel is enhanced. irregularities in the rim or telly diameter are compensated, assembly of the rim and felly is facilitated, a secure fit of the rim on the telly is assured, and other advantages are attained which will become I apparentto those skilled in the art as the invention is more fully described. 7 Difficulty has been encountered in harmonizing lightness and strength in disk wheels.

Disks have been employed of tapering'fthick nessfrom the center toward the periphery,

radial ribs have been resorted to, mutually.

supporting disks "have been employed in combination.-all in thef efio j;..to reduce the weight of the wheel as "much asepossible while maintaining a sufficient degree of resistance to distortion in use. These expedients are employed at a sacrifice of resiliency or springiness, the term spring invention is to utilize resiliency rather than 5 stiffness in imparting strength.

According to the present invention this object is attained by dishing the disk in its medial portion adjacent the hub, and from the point of greatest depth extending the disk forwardly across the plane of impact of the wheel to a pointadjacent the periph' erythereof where the disk is reversely bent to the rear to form an overhanging felly. No considerable portion of the disk lies parallel to the plane of the wheel so that the load isapplied in such a way as -to tend to bend rather than crush the disk. The fixed or demount-able rim resting upon the telly is supported first by the inclined overhanging felly and secondly by the curved disk.

Such a disk when unstressed would tend to yield at local points under excess weight or shock resulting in a vertical shortening and horizontal lengthening. This is a tendency which is present in all known disk wheel constructions and has been sought to be overcome by the employment of more metal in the wheel or of high grade spring stock. According to the present invention this tendency is eliminated by assembling the disk with the fixed or demountable rim in such manner as to constitute of the latter a constrictive member confining the periphery of the disk under stress circumfen circling rim. the former under compression and the latter under expansion, which effects the secure mounting of the rim upon the disk, facilitating the placement of the rim and holding it firmly in position after assembly;

, ratefelly member,

felly\portion lipped '6) In order that the invention may be readily understood and the manner of obtaining its objects made clear the same will be here nafter set forth more in detail in connect on with the accompanying drawing illustrating certain embodiments thereof by way of exemplification. It will be evident that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other constructional forms without sacrifice of its material advantages, wherefore the drawing and description are to be taken 1n an illustrative and not in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a wheel of the double disk type embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a single dlsk wheel wherein the invention is involved;

ig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the invention in connection with a single disk of somewhatdiiferent design; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through a double disk wheel in is employed.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate an integral felly construction wherein the spring reaction between the disk and rim is effected in the assembling of the latter; whereas Fig. 4 representsa type employing a sepaand wherein the disks are placed under stress by the hub assembly, supplemented by assembling the rim therewith.

Having detailed reference to the drawing for purposes of description, a wheel hub of substantially standard construction is represented at 11 provided with a forward hub flange or plate 12 and a rear hub flange or plate 13 which, in the embodiments shown, forms the front shell of the brake drum 14. Between the hub plates 12 and 13, occupying the space which ordinarily accommodates the spokes of a wooden wheel are advantageously arranged filler members 15 of wood or metal.

Having particular reference to Fig. 1, a front disk 16 and a rear disk 17 have their inner hub portions clamped between and secured to the hub plates by means of the bolt 18. These two disks are reversely curved as viewed diametrically, the disk 16 being deeply dished in its central portion adjacent the hub and extending from the point of greatest depth forwardly to the point 19- where it is beaded over and thence extends rearwardly'at 2O outwardly at 21 and again rearwardly at 22 forming an overhanging over at its extreme rear edge 23. The rear disk 17 is likewise reversely curved, extending forwardly Aand outwardly to the point 24 whence it lies against the portions 21 and 22 16, with its edge housed within margin 23 of the dlsk 16.

of the disk the lipped which the invention 0 -38 thus placing the fe The felly portion 22 of the disk 16 is disposed at a slight inclination obliquely to the axis of the wheel, the incline being greatest at the rear edge adjacent the 11p portion. In its normal unstressed condition the maximum diameter of the felly portion is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the standard demountable rim shown at 25 so that when the said rim is assembled laterally therewith it comes into friction contact with the felly before reaching its final position bearing against the steeply inclined rear edge of the felly. hen the split ring 26 or when equivalent indix'idual wedging shims of known character are drawn home by means of the bolts 27 said ring or shims act as a lever fulcrumed at their lower edges above the head 19 and bearing with their upper edges 28 upon the front edge of the rim 25', the rim 25 is forced inwardly compressing the felly and disks by the constrictive action of the rim, the complete assembling of the rim with the wheel maintaining the felly and disks under compression radially applied while the outward thrust exerts an expansive force upon the rim, assuring a firm connection between the two.

It will be. observed also that aside from the inwardly directed wedging effect of the rim upon the disks and the resultant spring reaction between the two, there is a further outward thrust of the felly occasioned by the tightening of the bolts 27 whereby actingabout the foot of the shim or ring as a hinge point the upper edge 28 of the shim ring is drawn rearwardly and outwardly and the rear edge of the felly is drawn forwardly and outwardly, further exerting expansive action upon the rim.

aving particular reference to Fig. 2 the drawing the same action is present. Here there is but a single disk 29 employed. deeply dished at 30 and reversely curved as viewed diametrically, being beaded at 31 and reversely bent to the rear at an inclination to the wheel axis to form the felly 32 having a steeper inclination at its rear edge As in the former case a split shim ring 34 is employed, equivalent to individual shims as commonly used, said shim being lcrumed at 35 and bearing at 36 upon the forward edge of the demountable rim 3? which latter is forced laterally upon the felly member by the ti htening of the bolts l l y and body portion of the disk under radial compression which reacts to place and maintain the rim under expansion.

In Fig. 3 the same reference numerals apply as are used in connection with Fig. 2 and the same operation is present in a wheel the conformation of which differs in detail. The accommodation of the valve stem in this and other forms does not interfere in 15 and 39 3 5 edges 39 40 to be forced outwardly under the spring e 50 I arrange within the 55 gagement as 65 them to enter the lips 39 any way with the sliding engagement of'the rim and felly,

one point in the periphery of the wheel and a sufiiciently large aperture therein being 5 provided to allow of play.

The invent-ion is shown as embodied in a distinct type of wheel in Fig. 4. Here is illustrated a supplemental felly member 39 which serves to connect the marginal portions of two disks 10 and 41 and to support in the same way as the integral felly members previously described, the demountable rim 42. It has a configuration characterized by marginal lipped over portions 39 for taking over the marginal portions of the two former case the rim is held in assembled relation by means of a shim 43 adjusted by means of the bolts 44. This form of construction enables the employment of disks which may be highly tempered and of spring steel. The two disks 40 and 11 are preferably of slightly differentdiameter but otherwise ofthe same contour, forwardly and as rearwardly dished. They are punched from a plane sheet of tempered steel and not formed in dished shape by a. press, which would be impracticable. The felly member 39, having been formed by rolling, the disks and flare placed at opposite sides thereof and forced inwardly toward each other at their central portions whereby they are sprung into dished shape and their marginal portions. originally held apart by the lipped and 39 of the felly member, are thereby contracted so as to clear the lips and snap into the spaces formed thereby. They are then permitted to separate suflicient-ly in their central portion to allow their margin;

the disks as far as permitted by the lly member, by which they are then held under inwardly directed radial stress. In this position they are maintained by the inher- 45 ent tension of the metal tending to resume its former plane.

As one method of assembling the disk and felly member in the relation above described, and holding the same in assembled relation, space between the two disks about the hub portion two telescopically disposed cup-like plates 45 and 46. the inner wall of one and the outer wall of the other being threaded for mutual interenshown. The inner peripheries of these two plates are provided with notches Or holes 47 for engagement by a spanner wrench or the like in order that they may be angularly adjusted relative to each other.

By turning these plates in one direction they are caused to approach one another and thus allow the central portion of the disks to be pressed together dishing the disks and reducing their diameter sufliciently to allow and 39 of the occurring as it does at but disks 4:0 and 41. As in the teriorlv accessible by an extension 52 passconstitute a filler member holding the disks in fixed relation at their centers and beingthemselves prevented from further relatiye' movement by means of the bolts 48 uniting the hub plates &9 and 50. which latter prevent any relaxing of the spring stress of the disks due to the tightening of the bolts 48. a V

Herein the valve stem 51 is made exing through one of the disks 40, 4:1 to the rear of the wheel. The shim retaining bolts it have their heads H dis-osed within the space between the rear dis 41 and the felly member 39, being prevented from turning in the felly member by the engagement therewith of a polygonal shank.

In that form of construction illustrated in Fi 4 the disk portion of the wheel is mainv o n u tamed under rad1al compression primarily by means of the felly member 39 although above the beaded portion 19 of Figs. 1 and 31 of Figs. 2 and 3 or the lipped portion 39 of Fig. 4, serves to fill in the opening thereabove and to present a substantially flush surface which adds greatly to the apearance of the wheel as distinguished from individual shims oran annular shim overlying and extending beyond the general surface plane of the wheel.

It will be observed from the foregoing description and from the drawing. that the mounting of therim-assembling shim or shims in relation to the inclined felly further provides a reserve of adjustment which, co-acting with the rim and felly, serves to preserve the resilient or spring action be tween the two, whereby any tendencv of the felly or disk to assume a reduced diameter under prolonged use may be compensated for by readjustment of the shim. which would not be possible if the functioning position of the shimwere not adjustable or if the rim were fixed relative to the felly.

I claim:

1. In a wheel. a steel disk body yieldable in the plane of the wheel, in combination with a peripheral member confining the disk under radial compression.

2. In a wheel, a steel disk body of curved diametric cross-section, in combination with a peripheral member confining the disk under radial compression.

3. In a wheel, a steel disk body of reversely curved diametric cross-section, in combination with a peripheral member confining the disk under radial compression.

4. In a wheel, a hub portion, and a peripheral tire-carrying portion, and a stressed intermediate disk portion having assembled in fixed relation to the hub and spring reaction outwardly against the tire-carrying portion.

5. In a wheel, the combination with a yielding felly portion, and an encircling demountable tire-carrying rim, of a wheel member arranged to press .the felly' outwardly against the rim to maintain the same under radially directed spring stress.

6. In a wheel, a steel disk metrically yieldabl'e, in combination with a constrictive peripheral member, the disk having a slightly greater diameter when unstressed than the peripheral member whereby in assembled relation the peripheral member maintains the disk member under inwardly directed radial stress.

7. In a wheel, the combination with a steel disk body diametrically yieldable and having an obliquely disposed peripheral portion, in combination with a constrictive rim member of slightly less diameter than the normal diameter of the peripheral portion of the disk when unstressed, whereby in laterally assembled relation the rim maintains. the disk under inwardly directed radial stress.

8. A single disk wheel comprising a hub portion. a peripheral portion, and an intermediate disk portion, in combination with laterally adjustable means to place and re tain the disk under radial compression.

9. In a wheel, a steel disk body having a laterally extending yieldable rim-supporting portion. in combination with a rim member assembled therewith and confining the rimsupporting portion of the disk under radial compression.

10. In a single disk wheel, a steel disk body having an integral laterally and obliquely extending rim-supporting portion. in combination with a rim member assembled therewith and confining the rim-supporting portion of the disk under radial compression.

11. A wheel including a hub portion, a dished disk portion, and a constrictive member assembled laterally therewith for placing and retaining the dished disk under radial compression.

12. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a hub and rim portions, of an intermediate steel disk body having an obliquely body dia disposed peripheral portion of slightly greater diameter when unstressed than the rim portion and underlying and supporting the'same whereby in assembled relation the rim portion exerts inwardly directed radial stress on the disk.

13. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a hub and rim portions, of an intermediate steel disk body having an obliquely disposed peripheral portion of slightly greater diameter when unstressed than the rim portion, the inner face of the rim portion and outer face of the peripheral disk portion having a relative inclination whereb the assemblage of the two by a lateral movement causes the rim portion to inwardly compress the disk portion and maintain the latter under spring stress.

14. In a wheel, the combination with the hub and felly portions, of an intermediate disk portionassembled in fixed relation to the hub therewith under deforming stress whereby to place the disk under radial compression.

15. In a wheel, the combination with an inwardly yielding felly or fixed rim portion, of an encircling demountable'rim adapted to be seated thereon. and adjustable means for assembling the felly and rim with the former under stress. 5

16. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a disk body having an obliquely disposed felly portion, of a demountable rim having an interior diameter less than the maximum diameter of the felly, and adjustable means to force the rim laterally upon the felly whereby to place and maintain the felly under radial compression and the rim under radial expansion.

17. In a. single disk wheel, the combination with a felly portion and an encircling the carrying rim, of adjustable means arranged to force the felly outwardly against the rim to maintain the latter under radially directed stress.

18. In a single disk wheel the combination with a demountable tire-carrying rim, of a wedging wheel member arranged when as seinbled with the rim to maintain the latter under outwardly directed stress.

19. In a single disk wheel, the combination with a felly member, and an encircling demountable tire-carrying rim, of a wedging wheel member arranged to adjustably force the felly outwardly againstthe rim.

20. In a wheel, the combination with a hub, a body portion and a felly portion, and an encircling demountable tire-carrying rim, of a peripheral wheel member arranged to press the felly outwardly against the rim to, in combination with a rim-positioning shim fulcrumed on the shoulder and bolts transfixing the shim and the disk exterior to the shoulder, whereby tension applied to the bolts will place the disk under inwardly directed radial stress.

22. In a wheel disk body yieldable in the. plane of the wheel and having an annular shoulder adjacent its periphery and a laterally extending inclined rim-supporting felly exterior thereto, in combination with.

a rim-positioning annular shim fulcrumed on the shoulder, and bolts t'ransfixing the shim and the disk exterior to the shoulder, whereby tension applied to the bolts will placethe telly and the disk under inwardly directed radial stress.

23. In a wheel, the combination with a member, a yieldable felly for supporting the rim member, and means for placing the rim under stress and holding the same in resilient reactionary relation with the telly.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. FORSYTH.

Witnesses:

LEWIS T. Gnzers'r, FRANCES K. Gmmsrm. 

